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TCU Graduate Seeks Professional Help to Invade University Network

A graduate of Texas Christian University made himself a joke on the Internet when he hired computer hackers in an attempt to push his transcription. However, his tactics have come open and found to aide a Montana congressman.

Todd Shriber's identity was revealed in an Internet blogger, and he confessed his activity. The 28-year old man, a communications director to Denny Rehberg a Republican Rep., was fired. According to Erik Iverson, chief of staff for Mr. Rehberg, Shriber was just not behaving with enough honesty that they needed and demanded from their employees. The result eventually came to Shriber just four days before Christmas by way of elimination from his job as 'communications director' to U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg of Montana.

Shriber was not available for comment. He was facing widespread online ridicule, because hackers made a series of silly requests to him. They demanded of him proof of his identity by sending them photos of squirrels. Shriber did so by submitting squirrel photos and the hackers posted all his e-mails on the Internet, including the photos.

In August 2006, Shriber contacted two persons via e-mail over a period of three weeks. The two people convinced him that they might succeed to intrude the network of computers at Texas Christian University. They might then be able to modify some data that would push his GPA, said the investigating officials.

These two people ultimately started giving Shriber directions, said TCU's assistant vice chancellor for marketing and communication, Tracy Syler-Jones. The supposed hackers never initiated the break-in into the TCU's network.

Mr. Iverson remarked that Shriber didn't score low grades and so couldn't make out what wanted him to change them. Mr. Iverson said it was really mind-boggling. This entire thing was unlikely of Todd and he hoped it would not happen again. Todd's position in office requires lot of trust, which he has violated. Iverson said they really had no choice at that time.

Shriber graduated from Texas Christian University in 2000 with a degree in broadcast journalism and during his one-year employment for Rehberg he received a remuneration of $50,000 annually.